Session O
Connecting Care Needs, Space and Places. The Role of Health Technologies
Facilitators: Stefania BELELLI, Sylvie OCCELLI, Chiara RIVOIRO, Valeria ROMANO & Bibiana SCELFO (IRES Research Unit on Health technology and Assessment)
The concepts of space, place and their relationship have long been debated in geography. Established theories consider space as a geographical location which has no social connections for a human being; place, in contrast, is understood as a setting, created by human experiences (Relph, 1976; Tuan, 1977). However, space and place are not separate concepts (Pérez et al., 2016; Chasles & De Biaggi, 2019): people give or derive meaning from the knowledge they have of their surroundings and organise the world around themselves accordingly. Place allows human intentions, experiences and actions to be focused spatially (Seamon & Sowers, 2008).
In health research too, space is typically considered as a dimension which may have an impact on health-enhancing or damaging behaviours, disease risk factors, and health conditions (Chaix et al., 2013). Alternatively, place is often seen as a locus or container for a population’s health demands and health-care services (Poland et al., 2005). Information technology (IT) and digitalisation have boosted the development of new medical devices and organisational models which can improve healthcare delivery. Conceptually, they call for a revision of healthcare space-place relationships. Furthermore, technological advancement stimulates novel research perspectives (Occelli, 2008; 2019) which make it easier to identify health needs of an ageing population, monitor their evolution over time and provide tailored services.
In practical terms, however, a number of studies have shown that the spread of technologies is uneven and may have both positive and negative impacts. For patients, digital applications offer opportunities to overcome the limits imposed by the geographical distribution of services and increase healthcare appropriateness and accessibility. Ultimately, they may enable the transition towards person-centred integrated care, as advocated by the European Digital Health Agenda. As the adoption of health technologies proceeds by steps, and depends on context, however, there is a risk that they might exacerbate existing disparities or even create new ones.
Proposed discussion topics in the session:
- Accessibility: To what extent might online information about health-care services improve population access to these services in a local area (regional or sub-regional)?
- Technology assessment: Depending on the level of health-technological equipment and organisational models in place in a regional health-care organisation, which analytic strategy could be applied to assess their functioning?
- Technology management: How might progress in spatial-oriented technologies (EHR and wearable devices for tracking patients and health supplies) support the management of health services and their delivery (telehealth, hospitalisation, specialist treatments, etc.)?
- Communication: To what extent does digitally-supported communication among healthcare professionals, administrative and technical staff, patients and caregivers contribute to the creation of more adequate contexts for healthcare delivery? As well as a context which is also more sustainable?
- Local area analysis: How might the comparison of health technology diffusion/delivery across areas enhance the assessment of local situations?
Indicative bibliographical references
Chaix B., Meline J., Duncan S., Jardinier L., Perchoux C., Vallé J., Merrien C., Karusisi N., Lewin A., Brondeel R., Kestens Y., 2013, “Neighborhood Environments, Mobility, and Health: Towards a New Generation of Studies in Environmental Health Research”, Revue d’épidémiologie et de santé publique, 61S, s139-s145.
Pérez S., Laperrière V., Borderon M., Padilla C., Gilles Maignant G., Oliveau S., 2016, “Evolution of Research in Health Geographics through the International Journal of Health Geographics (2002–2015)”, International Journal of Health Geographics, 15(3).
Poland B. P., Lehoux D., Holmes, Andrews G., 2005, “How place matters: unpacking technology and power in health and social care”, Health and Social care in the Community, 3:2, p. 170-180.
Relph E., 1976, Place and Placelessness, Londres, Pion.
Seamon D., Sowers J., 2008, Key Texts in Human Geography, London, Sage.
Tuan Y.F., 1977, Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press.
Download the elements of the call for papers for this session
Session/Sesión O - Belelli, Occelli, Rivoiro, Romano, Scelfo (pdf)
Appel à communications/Call for papers/Convocatoria a comunicationes (pdf)
fichier modèle avec les instructions/template with instructions/archivo con las instrucciones (docx)
